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Faculty Research: Dr. Jian Yang
DR. JIAN YANG , ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FOREST LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
Almost 50% of Kentucky’s land area is covered by forests. The expansive forests of Kentucky are vital to the state’s economy, environment, and quality of life, providing numerous benefits such as timber production, carbon sequestration, water resources regulation, and outdoor recreation. However, Kentucky’s forests face significant challenges, including invasive species, deforestation, extreme weather, and oak decline. Addressing these challenges requires a landscape approach to examine the interactions between forests and the surrounding environments. UK’s Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, led by Dr. Jian Yang, utilizes geospatial technology to monitor and analyze forest ecosystems at large spatial scales. By leveraging satellite imagery, aerial photography, LiDAR point cloud, and GIS, Dr. Yang’s team tracks changes in forest cover and structure, identifies areas of stress and disturbance, and assesses the impacts of human activities on forested land across Kentucky and beyond.
Dr. Yang’s lab has conducted research that revealed the spatial extent of surface mining and its negative consequences for biodiversity, particularly for the ridgetop biota in eastern Kentucky. Supported by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Dr. Yang has mapped young forest habitats for ruffed grouse in 36 counties of eastern Kentucky with the LiDAR data from the KYFromAbove Program. In collaboration with Professors Liang Liang and Ellen Crocker, Dr. Yang’s lab seeks to quantify the spillover effects of reclaimed mining sites in facilitating the spread of invasive species to adjacent forests and map woody invasive species such as bush honeysuckle under forest canopies. These efforts have led to publications in internationally renowned scientific journals and mapping products of great utility for natural resources management agencies.
With advancements in AI and geospatial analysis platforms, Dr. Yang’s lab is poised to conduct cutting-edge research and train the next generation of environmental scientists and managers. Dr. Yang and his team look forward to developing innovative solutions for the sustainability of forests in Kentucky and worldwide.
